"How few there are who have courage enough to own their faults, or resolution enough to mend them." ~ Benjamin Franklin
"Resolve to take fate by the throat and shake a living out of her." ~Louisa May Alcott
"I think in terms of the day's resolutions, not the year's." ~ Henry Moore
**************************
First of all.. Let me wish everyone a safe and
Happy New Year!!
Please do NOT drink and drive..
I am so ready for this year to be over.. the economy hasn't been kind to many of the people I personally know.. friends and family have struggled with finding or keeping jobs.. cuts in pay have meant hard times for many people... Especially those with little children... though I don't think things will improve for most of us financially as far as wage increases or even an increase in hours worked or available jobs.. at least with the end of the year comes a hope for better things to come.. I am optimistic as I sit here in the quiet of my house and await the midnight hour alone...
I am alone by choice... I could have gone to a number of celebrations.. alone.. It seems I am a funny person and have a number of offers to " Come! Have a drink! Make us Laugh!".. I could have gone to my baby sister's house and laughed and talked and rested from the real world in the safety of her kitchen in a jacked up chair.. with something refreshing in a glass.. or a hot cup of coffee and something good to eat.. we might have even had some fireworks... maybe we could have wrote out names in the frosty night air with sparklers.. but it is raining... Dave is at work.. Emily needed some cooking done for a party that they were going to.. I could have gone out..
instead I made pasta salad for her friends party and then helped her bake a peach cobbler from Mama's family recipe.. I am happy to have ended the year sharing time with one of my children.. I will admit that it would have been great to have all of them here.. I wonder if that will ever happen again...
I could have gone to my best friends house and had a glass of watered wine with her.. we talked earlier and she was cooking something or other from her yard.. Thai people eat all kinds of things.. most of it green and all of it hot.. I asked what she was cooking and she said "egg.. fish.. something from my country.. good for you.. make you good luck.. we have wine but you only have water wine.. you drive.. I drink.." I promised to call her closer to midnight and we said a million I love you's.. I was sixteen when I met her.. she swore she was 16 too but she was actually 25 or 26.. she was my friend and many times my protector.. we had a large circle of old friends and of course through the years we added new ones.. except for two others that we rarely see.. and us.. the old circle is gone now.. all of them died too young.. she wonders aloud sometimes which of us will be next.. though I don't say it aloud I privately hope it will be me.. I can't imagine life without Thoi.. I am her longest time friend and she doesn't seem to know me by name.. she has always.. always called me Cassie.. I used to correct her but after a while she added the names of those who died to my name too so that I became Cassie-clifford-gayle-kaykay-linda-robert-bert-ernie-bigbird... you get the idea.. Now if she says Cassie I am happy with that.. One of our newer circle best friends recently told her that she shouldn't call me other folks... especially dead folks.. names.. she simply replied that Cassiekaykay doesn't mind.. the next day she called me to "come right now.. I need to see you face".... her version of come over quickly.. I need to talk to you about something.. face to face... turns out she does actually know my real name.. or at least what everyone calls me.. she spoke almost perfect.. teary eyed.. English as she made sure I wasn't mad with her for calling me a name as long as our friendship... I was just happy that she really does know who I am.. after 35 years it doesn't really matter what she calls me any more.. so many friends have gone on.. some were sick.. some died tragic accidental deaths.. at this point I'm just happy to have her..
I was also invited to my best ex-niece/in-law/forever-friend Sheri's house.. I can only imagine the wonderful foods and games of cards or marbles that they might be playing there.. knowing I don't like to drive at night I bet she would have sent someone for me or even come herself.. we would have definitely had loads to eat.. including her great pizza dip and pots of hot coffee.. she called and later even one of the younger party goers called saying I should hurry on out there..her Daddy could have skipped me over and over at Phase ten cards.. I could have joked and laughed and talked and ate.. they will all gather outside for the grand finally of fireworks just before midnight.. amid shouts of joy and peals of laughter they will light up the sky over their neck of the woods as the New Year rolls in.. I am usually there.. I will think of them tonight as the midnight hour draws near..
This year has been a year of losses for so many people.. jobs and incomes and material losses everywhere.. for our family and the families of a few friends it has also been a year of lost lives..
Even on Christmas Eve morning.. this year.. death paid our family an unexpected visit... My family has a way of adopting not only our spouses but their entire family.. if you had a gazillion siblings and married into our family we would claim them every one.. our children would call them Aunt or Uncle and we would gather for their weddings and births and on and on.. When my phone rang early on Christmas Eve I knew it wasn't good.. My phone doesn't ring early unless something is wrong.. I love all of my siblings.. I love their husbands and wives.. as I listened to My sister-in-law beg my brother not to cry till she told me that her own brother had died.. I wanted to sob myself.. I hurried to dress and go to her brother's house..I stayed with his wife and yes with his body.. until they finally came for him.. my children called him UNK.. he was my brothers best friend and room mate as they traveled together to work in far away cities.. 30 years they had been best friends.. Camella's only brother.. a husband to Paula .. a Father.. a Grandpa.. an Uncle.. and a dear friend.. only 48.. You will be missed my friend..
Camella with her beloved brother
Brad Brown~ 8-25-1961~ 12-24-2009
Quiet time has ended.. My Beloved Dave came in and filled the room and the house with sounds of news and advertisements from the stereo.. The neighbors have began with the fireworks a little early.. My roosters must not like the noise any more than I do.. they are crowing in time with the squeals of the pig and the loud barking of the neighborhood dogs.. all afternoon and night sirens have screamed up and down the highway that runs along the end of our dirt road.. the sound is a lonesome.. dreary sound.. as I listen to the sirens scream by on the way to the hospital that lays just across the lake and then hear the medi-vac copter hover over the airport across the road.. I say a silent prayer.. somewhere tonight another family will suffer a loss.. my own children are out there somewhere welcoming a New Year.. I will wait and hope that this year will be better than the last one.. Dave and I will watch some of the holiday Television and be thankful to be together.. we will ring in the New Year quietly.. we will think of those who have passed away this year.. we will hope for a better year for our children.. we will miss them and pray that they are safe tonight.. If you are celebrating please be safe.. please do NOT drink and drive.. Have a great Night and a wonderful New Year!
Patsy
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Merry Christmas!
"Christmas Eve I saw a stable, low and very bare, A little child in a manger. The oxen knew Him, had Him in their care, To men He was a stranger, The safety of the world was lying there, And the world's danger. " ~Mary Elizabeth Coleridge
"Christmas in Bethlehem. The ancient dream: a cold, clear night made brilliant by a glorious star, the smell of incense, shepherds and wise men falling to their knees in adoration of the sweet baby, the incarnation of perfect love. " ~Lucinda Franks
"Christmas is a holiday that persecutes the lonely, the frayed, and the rejected. "
~ Jimmy Cannon
"Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart." ~ Washington Irving
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas....
I used to love the holidays and from Thanksgiving till Christmas Eve I was busy buying little things and wrapping gifts for everyone.. I took the kids shopping so that each of them could buy gifts for their other family..allowing them to choose something for their real parent and for their step parent and any children or Grandparents that might also be a part of their other family... after that I had to take them to buy each other gifts... as well as gifts for Dave.. he would wait till the very last possible minute and have the children to show me things so that they could try and figure out what to buy me.. I never considered myself hard to buy for.. a notebook or a pen.. a book or even a book marker.. a live plant or a package of seeds.. and of course there was always the doll or tea set....
The last few years I simply haven't had the same Christmas spirit.. I wonder if it's because I am older or if it's because all the kids are grown? Honestly I don't know... Dave and I have discussed and re-discussed what we want to cook.. he said Turkey and I said ham.. I have one of each defrosting in the bottom of the fridge... I told Mama tonight maybe I should cook and slice both and put them on the table with all the fixings for sandwiches... make it easy on Dave and on me... some paper plates and a cooler of ice for the soft drinks and we can lay around and watch TV and wait to see who shows up... Let each one open their gifts as they come and have a snack with us.. before they have to move on to the next house... easy on the kids too since they won't have to try and eat a half dozen meals while traveling about..
The simple truth is that we don't know who will be here and at what time.. now that all the kids are grown and gone it is just as hard as it always was for us to plan anything.. we always hated the fact that as soon as they opened gifts here.. all of the children had to be carted off to the other parent's house for the rest of the day.. then at night they would come home to us tired and cranky and pouting because they had to leave something at the other parents' house... Christmas hasn't changed for Dave and I... we still feel as if we have to take whatever time is left when the other family is through... Christmas has been hard for us for a long time... Dave said he thought that when the kids grew up it would be easier... I knew it wouldn't.. though my own family was always together .. I learned from Gaylon's family what it was like to have two sets of family... and as hard as it is for us as adults... I know it is so much harder for the children..
I have all my gifts bought and wrapped.. I have mailed a small gift to both of the grown sons who live on the other side of the world.. the gift pile is slimmer this year.. the economy decided that for us as well as for almost all families I know.. Dave said that he had racked his brain trying to think what to buy... he said with no kids to take shopping he was having a hard time deciding what I might like.. it was as if he needed a kid to take along to help him pick out something.. plus he knows that I like anything at all the kids buy.... He did great with my computer... he managed to buy it and get it in the house without me seeing it and most likely could have left it sitting where he had it and I wouldn't have even noticed it but he couldn't wait... I have been enjoying it for a whole week now.. he never looks under the tree.. he has a few things under there.. Dave loves anything at all that someone gives him.. but he says he would rather have nothing and have all the kids to sit down for a meal together just once on Christmas day.... without having to hurry to get to another place... I am satisfied that that will never happen but I do agree that it's a very wonderful wish!
Dave and I will spend our Christmas day like we have so many before.. we will cook together and wait for which ever children come.. we will worry about those who live far away and we will worry about those who might be traveling not so far to see us.. we will enjoy the limited time with our kids and wish then well as they move on to spend the rest of the day with their other families..
I hope that each and every one of my readers has a wonderful Merry Christmas!!
Patsy
"Christmas in Bethlehem. The ancient dream: a cold, clear night made brilliant by a glorious star, the smell of incense, shepherds and wise men falling to their knees in adoration of the sweet baby, the incarnation of perfect love. " ~Lucinda Franks
"Christmas is a holiday that persecutes the lonely, the frayed, and the rejected. "
~ Jimmy Cannon
"Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart." ~ Washington Irving
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas....
I used to love the holidays and from Thanksgiving till Christmas Eve I was busy buying little things and wrapping gifts for everyone.. I took the kids shopping so that each of them could buy gifts for their other family..allowing them to choose something for their real parent and for their step parent and any children or Grandparents that might also be a part of their other family... after that I had to take them to buy each other gifts... as well as gifts for Dave.. he would wait till the very last possible minute and have the children to show me things so that they could try and figure out what to buy me.. I never considered myself hard to buy for.. a notebook or a pen.. a book or even a book marker.. a live plant or a package of seeds.. and of course there was always the doll or tea set....
The last few years I simply haven't had the same Christmas spirit.. I wonder if it's because I am older or if it's because all the kids are grown? Honestly I don't know... Dave and I have discussed and re-discussed what we want to cook.. he said Turkey and I said ham.. I have one of each defrosting in the bottom of the fridge... I told Mama tonight maybe I should cook and slice both and put them on the table with all the fixings for sandwiches... make it easy on Dave and on me... some paper plates and a cooler of ice for the soft drinks and we can lay around and watch TV and wait to see who shows up... Let each one open their gifts as they come and have a snack with us.. before they have to move on to the next house... easy on the kids too since they won't have to try and eat a half dozen meals while traveling about..
The simple truth is that we don't know who will be here and at what time.. now that all the kids are grown and gone it is just as hard as it always was for us to plan anything.. we always hated the fact that as soon as they opened gifts here.. all of the children had to be carted off to the other parent's house for the rest of the day.. then at night they would come home to us tired and cranky and pouting because they had to leave something at the other parents' house... Christmas hasn't changed for Dave and I... we still feel as if we have to take whatever time is left when the other family is through... Christmas has been hard for us for a long time... Dave said he thought that when the kids grew up it would be easier... I knew it wouldn't.. though my own family was always together .. I learned from Gaylon's family what it was like to have two sets of family... and as hard as it is for us as adults... I know it is so much harder for the children..
I have all my gifts bought and wrapped.. I have mailed a small gift to both of the grown sons who live on the other side of the world.. the gift pile is slimmer this year.. the economy decided that for us as well as for almost all families I know.. Dave said that he had racked his brain trying to think what to buy... he said with no kids to take shopping he was having a hard time deciding what I might like.. it was as if he needed a kid to take along to help him pick out something.. plus he knows that I like anything at all the kids buy.... He did great with my computer... he managed to buy it and get it in the house without me seeing it and most likely could have left it sitting where he had it and I wouldn't have even noticed it but he couldn't wait... I have been enjoying it for a whole week now.. he never looks under the tree.. he has a few things under there.. Dave loves anything at all that someone gives him.. but he says he would rather have nothing and have all the kids to sit down for a meal together just once on Christmas day.... without having to hurry to get to another place... I am satisfied that that will never happen but I do agree that it's a very wonderful wish!
Dave and I will spend our Christmas day like we have so many before.. we will cook together and wait for which ever children come.. we will worry about those who live far away and we will worry about those who might be traveling not so far to see us.. we will enjoy the limited time with our kids and wish then well as they move on to spend the rest of the day with their other families..
I hope that each and every one of my readers has a wonderful Merry Christmas!!
Patsy
Labels:
children,
Christmas,
gifts,
Holiday shopping,
shopping
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Watery Wednesday on the Lake's Edge...
"Praise the sea; on shore remain." ~John Florio
"Rivers are roads which move, and which carry us whither we desire to go."
~Blaise Pascal
"The great sea makes one a great sceptic." ~Richard Jefferies
Canadian Geese rush from the cold waters edge to crowd around my feet.. hoping for a fast food treat on a cold and dreary..
Watery Wednesday.. afternoon..
I call these Geese "Canadians" even though they were most likely all born and raised right where I found them today or at least in that general vicinity.. like most cities with any type of water feature.. we have a large population of geese.. In almost all areas of North America.. non-migratory Canada Goose populations have been on the rise... The species is frequently found on golf courses...parking lots ...city parks.. and almost any place that has even a small body of water.. which would have previously hosted only migratory geese.. for short stays.. on rare occasions. Owing to its adaptability to human-altered areas, it has become the most common species of waterfowl in North America... In many areas, non-migratory Canada Geese are now regarded as pests... People have tried everything from capture and re-release to noise makers and have even allowed extended hunting seasons to try and disrupt their nesting in many areas.. I was careful to keep a watchful eye this afternoon as I walked among them... they have been known to attack other animals and even humans who they felt threatened by.. I guess It's a good thing they were hoping I'd toss them a fast food snack and didn't know that I was wondering how they would taste..roasted with orange marmalade...
have a great day!
Patsy
"Rivers are roads which move, and which carry us whither we desire to go."
~Blaise Pascal
"The great sea makes one a great sceptic." ~Richard Jefferies
Canadian Geese rush from the cold waters edge to crowd around my feet.. hoping for a fast food treat on a cold and dreary..
Watery Wednesday.. afternoon..
I call these Geese "Canadians" even though they were most likely all born and raised right where I found them today or at least in that general vicinity.. like most cities with any type of water feature.. we have a large population of geese.. In almost all areas of North America.. non-migratory Canada Goose populations have been on the rise... The species is frequently found on golf courses...parking lots ...city parks.. and almost any place that has even a small body of water.. which would have previously hosted only migratory geese.. for short stays.. on rare occasions. Owing to its adaptability to human-altered areas, it has become the most common species of waterfowl in North America... In many areas, non-migratory Canada Geese are now regarded as pests... People have tried everything from capture and re-release to noise makers and have even allowed extended hunting seasons to try and disrupt their nesting in many areas.. I was careful to keep a watchful eye this afternoon as I walked among them... they have been known to attack other animals and even humans who they felt threatened by.. I guess It's a good thing they were hoping I'd toss them a fast food snack and didn't know that I was wondering how they would taste..roasted with orange marmalade...
have a great day!
Patsy
Labels:
cold water,
Geese,
lake,
Watery Wednesday,
wildlife
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Three for Thursday! What a week!
"God always takes the simplest way." ~ Albert Einstein
"There is no way to prosperity, prosperity is the way."
~ Wayne Dyer
"May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house. " ~ George Carlin
************************
#1~ This way.. That Way.. Which Way??
Turning off of the main road.. in the direction of the pointing yellow arrow.. that promised a Wildlife Preserve.. onto a rough and bumpy dirt road.. Dave and I wound and weaved through some trees.. passed some gated dirt trails.. crossed a shallow creek..where teenagers crowded the narrow bridge.. doing only God knows what in the light rain.. besides giving us dirty looks that is..the road didn't seem to be going anywhere.. yet it didn't seem to have an end....after what seemed like ten miles in Dave said.. "my gasoline warning light is on".....pulling into a road side clearing to turn around and head out.. we finally discovered this sign.... and another post with two photo's under glass nailed up on it..
An Aiken Gopher Tortoise... This is the "sensitive species" that the sign above mentions.. this small glass covered photo had a simple request.."Take Care!" just to the right of that Photo was another one also covered by glass.. This handsome fellow
had only a one word warning below his photo... "BEWARE!"
Seeing these wonderful signs made me wonder if I really wanted to walk on the nature trail.. I suddenly became very weary and offered to wait right there for Dave if he wanted to take a stroll over the field we could see just ahead... being too much of a gentleman to leave me there in the misting rain alone.. Dave naturally declined my offer and we headed out.. taking the same path as we had traveled into the sad little wild life preserve.. we slowed down as we crossed the narrow teenager filled bridge.. I gave them dirty looks right back and then smiled as one of them looked guilty.. I guess I shouldn't have flashed my camera in their direction... Finally we emerged from the dirt road.. we felt lucky.. a person could get lost back there.. From now on maybe we will stick to the main roads..
Patsy
*************************************************
#2~ Thursday Thunks!
1. Isn't showing a condom commercial during sex rehab with Dr Drew almost like showing a pain narcotic or an alcohol commercial during intervention? ~~I reckon it might be.. then again maybe they can get someone who is still a sex addict to at least practice safe sex.. Is sex rehab a real thing?.. I bet it's made up just for this crazy question..
3. You take a shower, go to leave the bathroom and the door is stuck. Due to humidity and moisture it won't budge. It will not open. No one else is home. You can't go out the window. How long do you sit in the bathroom and how do you occupy your time?~~ If I was going to take a shower and no one was here but me.. I would leave the door open.. no way I'd fit through the tiny windows in my bathroom and I am not about to be shut up in a little room for long.. I'd tear the door down.. or tear my hands off trying... so I just leave it open.. problem solved...
"There is no way to prosperity, prosperity is the way."
~ Wayne Dyer
"May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house. " ~ George Carlin
************************
#1~ This way.. That Way.. Which Way??
Turning off of the main road.. in the direction of the pointing yellow arrow.. that promised a Wildlife Preserve.. onto a rough and bumpy dirt road.. Dave and I wound and weaved through some trees.. passed some gated dirt trails.. crossed a shallow creek..where teenagers crowded the narrow bridge.. doing only God knows what in the light rain.. besides giving us dirty looks that is..the road didn't seem to be going anywhere.. yet it didn't seem to have an end....after what seemed like ten miles in Dave said.. "my gasoline warning light is on".....pulling into a road side clearing to turn around and head out.. we finally discovered this sign.... and another post with two photo's under glass nailed up on it..
An Aiken Gopher Tortoise... This is the "sensitive species" that the sign above mentions.. this small glass covered photo had a simple request.."Take Care!" just to the right of that Photo was another one also covered by glass.. This handsome fellow
had only a one word warning below his photo... "BEWARE!"
Seeing these wonderful signs made me wonder if I really wanted to walk on the nature trail.. I suddenly became very weary and offered to wait right there for Dave if he wanted to take a stroll over the field we could see just ahead... being too much of a gentleman to leave me there in the misting rain alone.. Dave naturally declined my offer and we headed out.. taking the same path as we had traveled into the sad little wild life preserve.. we slowed down as we crossed the narrow teenager filled bridge.. I gave them dirty looks right back and then smiled as one of them looked guilty.. I guess I shouldn't have flashed my camera in their direction... Finally we emerged from the dirt road.. we felt lucky.. a person could get lost back there.. From now on maybe we will stick to the main roads..
Patsy
*************************************************
#2~ Thursday Thunks!
1. Isn't showing a condom commercial during sex rehab with Dr Drew almost like showing a pain narcotic or an alcohol commercial during intervention? ~~I reckon it might be.. then again maybe they can get someone who is still a sex addict to at least practice safe sex.. Is sex rehab a real thing?.. I bet it's made up just for this crazy question..
2. Burger King and Ronald McDonald met Colonel Sanders in a dark alley. They beat him down for just serving chicken and not sharing his "11 herbs & spices". The Colonel goes down. Begs for his life. Where do they go to eat afterward?~~ I hate to say it but I hate both the Burger King king and that creepy hamburger eating clown.. I hate the commercials .. I hate the posters.. I hate them.. they both look like perverts to me.. I actually met the very nice Colonel Sanders when I was a child at one of his restaurants..
he came out to where we were sitting and gave My Daddy back the cost of our food and complimented my parents on how well behaved we children were.. It was not everyday a family with eight children went into restaurants or stores.. we were often commented on.. We behaved.. we knew better than to misbehave in public.. I'd say the creepy clown and the pervert king went to Subway to eat..
he came out to where we were sitting and gave My Daddy back the cost of our food and complimented my parents on how well behaved we children were.. It was not everyday a family with eight children went into restaurants or stores.. we were often commented on.. We behaved.. we knew better than to misbehave in public.. I'd say the creepy clown and the pervert king went to Subway to eat..
4. You are a rock-star, but you need a cool rocker name. What is it and how did you decide on that name?~~ I will never be a rock-star.. I won't need a fancy name.. I will just be Patsy.. My Mama and her friend Patricia decided on my name.. I do like it though!
5. Have you ever gotten naked at a family function? ~~I would say NOT.. what kind of family would I have if we had clothing optional family gatherings?..
6. If purple ate yellow, what color would come out? brown..
7. The closest paper and pen to you right now. What color are they?~~ White paper in the printer and a cup slam full of pens in a rainbow of colors..
8. Corn chips or potato chips?~~ Corn Chips please.. the scoop kind if i can get some dip with that..
9. You are forced to swallow either a diamond or a piece of coal. Don't ask. Just do it. Which do you choose?~~ I think that's a stupid choice.. but if I have to I'll swallow the diamond.. then when I get home I'll eat a loaf of bread and drink a bottle of Castor oil.. Now who wants to buy a diamond???
10. If your mouse decided to attack your keyboard, who would win?~~ I would win because if my mouse starts attacking anything it will be killed with a large hammer..
***************************************
#3 ~ an acrostic poem ~
***************************************
#3 ~ an acrostic poem ~
A Gift ~ Life!
Wisdom and wishes
openness of mind
respectful and resolute
daring yet kind
strong and determined
obstinate and bold
friends of our youth
~our friends when we're old
love everlasting
~forever and a day
Instinct keen and cunning
~ a talent they say
freedom .. free rein
~ some far fetched ideas
enduring and enjoying
~ God's gift of the years
written by: Patricia Sawyer
9-8-2009
********************
This has been a very long and sad week for me.. this week started with the death of a young man who once worked with me and who's life took a tragic turn after he was shot in a robbery where two of his co-workers and friends died... needless to say that the "Rumor mill" has worked overtime this week with stories from the super fantastic to the plain old lie.. I have had a blue gazillion phone calls and text messages asking me for information I just don't have..and if I did have all the info people want I would most likely not share what I consider private information.. The only thing I can tell them is that I sure am going to miss him!
openness of mind
respectful and resolute
daring yet kind
strong and determined
obstinate and bold
friends of our youth
~our friends when we're old
love everlasting
~forever and a day
Instinct keen and cunning
~ a talent they say
freedom .. free rein
~ some far fetched ideas
enduring and enjoying
~ God's gift of the years
written by: Patricia Sawyer
9-8-2009
********************
This has been a very long and sad week for me.. this week started with the death of a young man who once worked with me and who's life took a tragic turn after he was shot in a robbery where two of his co-workers and friends died... needless to say that the "Rumor mill" has worked overtime this week with stories from the super fantastic to the plain old lie.. I have had a blue gazillion phone calls and text messages asking me for information I just don't have..and if I did have all the info people want I would most likely not share what I consider private information.. The only thing I can tell them is that I sure am going to miss him!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Watery Wednesday.. Cold.. Lensday..
"The only cure for seasickness is to sit on the shady side of an old brick church in the country." ~Author Unknown
"Though inland far we be,
Our souls have sight of that immortal sea
Which brought us hither."
~William Wordsworth
Ocean: A body of water occupying two-thirds of a world made for man - who has no gills. ~Ambrose Bierce
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Traveling along a country road recently Dave and I spotted this contraption nestled in between some twisted old Cyprus trees that looked like they should have been along a creek bank.. with no streams in sight the trees looked a little out of place.. curious enough to turn around and come back we discovered that this weird pipe and board contraption is an old flowing well.. we weren't sure what the purpose of the half green.. pipe fitted bucket was but Dave caught a bottle full of the ice COLD water.. straight from the highest pipe.. for us to drink.. we each took a few sips before deciding that maybe we really shouldn't drink water from an unknown source.. how ever as we stood there debating the safety of the water.. several cars pulled into the swampy spot and the people jumped out with empty jugs and soon had a regular assembly line going filling and loading gallon after gallon of the icy water. Dave handed me my ever present camera and went about drinking his spring water.. The water was delicious and icy cold.. I still don't understand the elaborate pipe and board with bucket contraption but the water was divine! My only thought for the buckets purpose was that we were in horse country and maybe the bucket was for animals to drink from.. I know that horses do enjoy a long cool drink of water..
Have a great day!
Patsy
"Though inland far we be,
Our souls have sight of that immortal sea
Which brought us hither."
~William Wordsworth
Ocean: A body of water occupying two-thirds of a world made for man - who has no gills. ~Ambrose Bierce
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Traveling along a country road recently Dave and I spotted this contraption nestled in between some twisted old Cyprus trees that looked like they should have been along a creek bank.. with no streams in sight the trees looked a little out of place.. curious enough to turn around and come back we discovered that this weird pipe and board contraption is an old flowing well.. we weren't sure what the purpose of the half green.. pipe fitted bucket was but Dave caught a bottle full of the ice COLD water.. straight from the highest pipe.. for us to drink.. we each took a few sips before deciding that maybe we really shouldn't drink water from an unknown source.. how ever as we stood there debating the safety of the water.. several cars pulled into the swampy spot and the people jumped out with empty jugs and soon had a regular assembly line going filling and loading gallon after gallon of the icy water. Dave handed me my ever present camera and went about drinking his spring water.. The water was delicious and icy cold.. I still don't understand the elaborate pipe and board with bucket contraption but the water was divine! My only thought for the buckets purpose was that we were in horse country and maybe the bucket was for animals to drink from.. I know that horses do enjoy a long cool drink of water..
Have a great day!
Patsy
A Cathedral in Sepia
"Miracles are to come."
~ E. E. Cummings
"The photographic image... is a message without a code."
~ Roland Barthes
"Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter." ~Ansel Adams
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
St. Francis~ the patron Saint of animals
~St. Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio~
Without a doubt the most beautiful Church I Have ever been inside of..
Have a great day!
Patsy
~ E. E. Cummings
"The photographic image... is a message without a code."
~ Roland Barthes
"Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter." ~Ansel Adams
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
St. Francis~ the patron Saint of animals
~St. Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio~
A legend tells that in the city of Gubbio, where Francis lived for some time, was a big black wolf "terrifying and ferocious, who devoured men as well as animals". Francis had compassion upon the townsfolk, and went up into the hills to find the wolf. Fear of the animal had caused all his companions to flee, though the saint pressed on. When he found the wolf, he made the sign of the cross and commanded the wolf to come to him and hurt no one. Miraculously the wolf closed his jaws and lay down at the feet of St. Francis. "Brother Wolf, you do much harm in these parts and you have done great evil...", said Francis. "All these people accuse you and curse you... But brother wolf, I would like to make peace between you and the people". Then Francis led the wolf into the town, and surrounded by startled citizens made a pact between them and the wolf. Because the wolf had “done evil out of hunger”, the townsfolk were to feed the wolf regularly, and in return, the wolf would no longer prey upon them or their flocks. In this manner Gubbio was freed from the menace of the wolf. Francis, ever the lover of animals, even made a pact on behalf of the town dogs, that they would not bother the wolf again. It is also said that Francis, to show the townspeople that they would not be harmed, blessed the wolf.
Without a doubt the most beautiful Church I Have ever been inside of..
~ She is Kateri Tekakwitha. Known as Lily of the Mohawks, she joined the well-known statue of Archbishop Jean Baptiste Lamy in front of Santa Fe’s St. Francis Cathedral in 2002. Santa Fe’s Archbishop commissioned a statue of Kateri Tekakwitha to honor the Native American spirit. A painting of Tekakwitha also joins a number of other saints on the church's altar screen.
~ From the fragrant beds of lavender to the bronze statues that greet visitors from all over the world.. ..The St Francis Cathedral in Santa Fe, New Mexico is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places of worship I have ever visited.. just a few steps from the busy plaza it is a welcome place of rest and stained glass beauty.. Set into the church's courtyard is a tile Labyrinth.. My son and grandchildren enjoyed following the tiles from the starting point to the center while I sat on one of the shaded benches and watched. The Cathedral welcomes visitors and is open from 6am till 6pm Monday through Saturday.. and from 7am till 7pm on Sundays.. except during mass.. If you are ever in the area I highly recommend a visit to this Beautiful old Cathedral..Have a great day!
Patsy
Labels:
bronze statues,
Cathedral,
Kateri Tekakwitha,
Santa Fe,
Sepia scenes
Monday, December 7, 2009
A Cold Moody Monday!
"A career is wonderful, but you can't curl up with it on a cold night." ~ Marilyn Monroe
"As love without esteem is capricious and volatile; esteem without love is languid and cold. "
~ Jonathan Swift
"People get so in the habit of worry that if you save them from drowning and put them on a bank to dry in the sun with hot chocolate and muffins they wonder whether they are catching cold."
~John Jay Chapman
Welcome to another Moody Monday! The word for today is Cold!
Cold~ I have had a cold.. I have been given the cold shoulder.. I have given the cold shoulder a few times too..I have seen people who were out cold... and I even know a few people who appear to be cold hearted.. I don't like cold food or cold colors..there are many things and people who leave me cold.. I am rarely left out in the cold and try to include others so that they won't feel as if they are left out in the cold.. I don't mind cold air and can put on more clothes if I have to.. I love to sleep in a cold room bundled up in piles of quilts with just my nose and one foot sticking out.. I love icy cold water and cold ice tea.. but when a cold wind blows through the pines and tickles my toes.. I am ready for something warm to drink and someone to cuddle and keep me warm and safe from the cold.. Have a great night..
Patsy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
First Snow~
drifts hide icy ground
laughing children slip and slide
December bursts free
Written By: Patricia Sawyer
9-17-2009
"As love without esteem is capricious and volatile; esteem without love is languid and cold. "
~ Jonathan Swift
"People get so in the habit of worry that if you save them from drowning and put them on a bank to dry in the sun with hot chocolate and muffins they wonder whether they are catching cold."
~John Jay Chapman
Welcome to another Moody Monday! The word for today is Cold!
- If it is cold, the temperature of the air is very low.
- ~ I love snow.. I wouldn't even feel the cold if I could stand out in the snow...
- ~ Polar Coaster~ that sounds like a cold ride!
- If you are cold, your body is at a low temperature.
- A cold person does not show emotion and seems unfriendly.
- If you have a cold, you have a very common illness which makes you sneeze and gives you a sore throat or a cough.
- If something leaves you cold, it fails to interest you.
- If someone is out cold.. they are unconscious or sleeping heavily
- If a person has been left out in the cold.. they have been ignored by others.
- and then of course there is Cold Blooded.. like this Big old snake that Dave and I recently spotted in the woods...
Cold~ I have had a cold.. I have been given the cold shoulder.. I have given the cold shoulder a few times too..I have seen people who were out cold... and I even know a few people who appear to be cold hearted.. I don't like cold food or cold colors..there are many things and people who leave me cold.. I am rarely left out in the cold and try to include others so that they won't feel as if they are left out in the cold.. I don't mind cold air and can put on more clothes if I have to.. I love to sleep in a cold room bundled up in piles of quilts with just my nose and one foot sticking out.. I love icy cold water and cold ice tea.. but when a cold wind blows through the pines and tickles my toes.. I am ready for something warm to drink and someone to cuddle and keep me warm and safe from the cold.. Have a great night..
Patsy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
First Snow~
drifts hide icy ground
laughing children slip and slide
December bursts free
Written By: Patricia Sawyer
9-17-2009
Labels:
Cold,
cold shoulder,
icy,
Moody Monday,
snow,
winter
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Watery and Windy Dreary Wednesday.....
"A wind has blown the rain away and blown the sky away and all the leaves away, and the trees stand. I think, I too, have known autumn too long." ~ E.E.Cummings
"I am no Poet here; my pen's the spout where the rain water of my eyes run out." ~ John Cleveland
"Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams." ~ Ashley Smith
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ this is almost how I feel when I look across the yard towards the quagmire that used to be a dirt road..
Sometime last night the rain began to fall in a quiet drizzle of innocent little drops... that overnight became cold wet sheets of precipitation that threatens to flood our few little acres with cold and muddy waters.. The dirt road is a slippery sludge of clay and water and plain old mud.. for some reason people do their very best to slide around in this mess and make the road impassable for scary cats like me.. I hate it when it rains like this because the road into our house is always a mess till it dries up some.. The field where we planted our pines is about fourteen inches deep on the edge closest to the house.. Five acres of pine trees standing in water up to their lowest limbs.. I was going to walk out into the swampy mess and measure further out but when I dipped a big toe into that cold slime I decided that just the edge was good enough for me.. with the cold wind blowing it made the pines look as if they were shivering in the winter rain..Brrrrr.. It is supposed to rain all night and again tomorrow.. I will be keeping a close eye on the field.. the ditch that the county swears is supposed to carry the rain away is full and overflowing into my pines.. it has flooded us before.. and the ditch hasn't been cleaned out in a lot of years.. in fact not since the last time we were waist deep in flood waters.. My chickens were sitting on perches early today deciding to wait it out up high where it was a little dryer.. The dogs barked a hello from the warmth of their snug houses.. coming out to eat a few bites between showers.. Pork chop.. The pig.. just squealed for some more to eat and rooted around in the knee deep mud that she seemed to love..on my last animal check just before dark the ducks and the pig were still squawking and squealing.. I guess they enjoy the rain more than me and Dave and the dogs and chickens... It has been a true Watery Wednesday around here.. have a great day!
Patsy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)